Takedown artificial tree

ABSTRACT

A takedown artificial tree includes a plurality of flexible branches, each of the branches including a substantially straight, hollow main stem and a plurality of fronds extending from the main stem; a plurality of fixing brackets made of rigid material, each of the fixing brackets including a hollow cylinder and a hollow branching member obliquely upward extending from the cylinder; and a trunk made of metal, the trunk being frictionally inserted through the fixing brackets to serve as a support of the finished artificial tree. Base of the main stem of each branch can be inserted into the branching member for fastening. No assembly by a buyer is required. There is no worry of the branches falling onto the ground.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The invention relates to artificial trees and more particularly to a takedown artificial tree with improved characteristics.

2. Description of Related Art

A conventional artificial tree shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 that can be assembled as detailed below. A branch A having a main stem A1 and a plurality of fronds A2 extending from the main stem A1 is fastened on a trunk B by wrapping a strap (or adhesive tape) C around the trunk B (see FIG. 1A). Next, repeat the above step a plurality of times until a plurality of branches A are fastened on the trunk B (see FIG. 1B).

For saving transportation space, it is typical of straightening each branch A (i.e., substantially parallel to the trunk B) prior to delivery as shown in FIG. 2A. A buyer has to bend the branch A by the hand one by one until a complete tree is formed after the ordered artificial tree has arrived at the destination (see FIG. 2B). However, it is a time consuming job. Moreover, surface of the trunk B of the assembled artificial tree is uneven (see FIG. 3). This is not visually aesthetic. To the worse, the strap C may be loosened after a short period time of use, resulting in a falling of the branch A onto the ground. Hence, the buyer has to tediously fasten the fallen branch A on the trunk B again.

There have been numerous suggestions in prior patents for artificial tree. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,099,920 discloses an artificial Christmas tree and method of mounting branches thereon. Thus, continuing improvements in the exploitation of artificial tree are constantly being sought.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a takedown artificial tree.

To achieve the above and other objects, the invention provides an artificial tree comprising a plurality of flexible branches, each of the branches including a substantially straight, hollow main stem and a plurality of fronds extending from the main stem; a plurality of fixing brackets made of rigid material, each of the fixing brackets including a hollow cylinder and a hollow branching member obliquely upward extending from the cylinder; and a trunk made of metal, the trunk being frictionally inserted through the fixing brackets to serve as a support of the finished artificial tree. Base of each branch can be inserted into the branching member for fastening.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective views showing steps of assembling a branch on a conventional artificial tree respectively;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the branch mounted on the trunk of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2B is a perspective view showing the forming of the artificial tree by bending the branch one by one by the hand after the ordered artificial tree has arrived;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the complete artificial tree of FIG. 2B;

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of two assembled fixing brackets of an artificial tree according to the invention;

FIG. 4B is a longitudinal sectional view of the fixing bracket;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing the assembly of the artificial tree of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the fully assembled artificial tree of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the artificial tree of FIG. 6 being stored compactly in a container for delivery; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the artificial tree after being assembled at home.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 4A to 8, an artificial tree (e.g., artificial Christmas tree) in accordance with the invention comprises the following components as discussed in detail below.

A plurality of branches 1 are made of flexible material. Each branch 1 has a plurality of fronds 12 extending from a substantially straight, hollow main stem 11 in which the fronds 12 are formed of flexible plastic, base of the main stem 11 is a hollow metal rod, and the whole main stem 11 is formed in the flexible plastic. A plurality of fixing brackets 2 are made of either molded hard plastic material or metal. The fixing bracket 2 has a hollow cylinder 21 and a hollow branching member 22 obliquely upward extending from the cylinder 21. The branching member 22 has an open end being smaller than the other end integrally formed with the cylinder 21. A trunk 3 made of metal is inserted through the fixing brackets 2 as the main support of the finished artificial tree. Note that the base of the main stem 11 can be inserted into the branching member 22 for fastening.

The whole artificial tree can be stored compactly in a container 4 prior to delivery (see FIG. 7). A buyer may open the container 4 to take the artificial tree after the ordered artificial tree has arrived. Thereafter, the branches 1 automatically extend outward to form an artificial tree due to its flexible nature (see arrows in FIG. 8). Hence, assembly by a buyer is not required. Moreover, it is durable and secure. There is no worry of the branches 1 falling onto the ground.

While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set fort in the claims. 

1. An artificial tree comprising: a plurality of flexible branches, each of the branches including a substantially straight, hollow main stem and a plurality of fronds extending from the main stem; a plurality of fixing brackets made of rigid material, each of the fixing brackets including a hollow cylinder and a hollow branching member obliquely upward extending from the cylinder; and a trunk made of metal, the trunk being frictionally inserted through the fixing brackets to serve as a support of the finished artificial tree, wherein a base of the main stem of each of the branches is adapted to insert into the branching member for fastening.
 2. The artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the rigid material is a hard plastic material.
 3. The artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the rigid material is metal.
 4. The artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the branching member of each of the fixing brackets has an open end being smaller than the other end joined the cylinder.
 5. The artificial tree of claim 1, wherein the fronds of each of the branches are formed of flexible plastic, the base of the main stem thereof is a hollow metal rod, and the main stem is formed in the flexible plastic. 